Signs pointing to Brizard as next CEO of Chicago Public Schools

April 15, 2011

There is a press conference that took place in Rochester, New York, on Friday that Chicagoans might be interested in.

The superintendent of schools there, Jean-Claude Brizard, is on the short list of candidates to lead Chicago’s public schools.

An advisory sent to reporters yesterday announced a “press conference to discuss recent media reports regarding Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard.”

Local media in Rochester have been reporting for at least two weeks that Brizard is being recruited for open superintendent positions in a number of cities, including Chicago.

While no one close to the situation in Chicago will talk on the record, my conversations with key policy makers in recent days suggest Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has chosen Brizard.

I could be wrong, but my informed (and unverified) prediction is this: Brizard will be announced as Chicago’s new CEO next week. It's spring break in both towns.

I’ll post more here on the Rochester press conference as it becomes available.

Update (12:05 PM): Rochester board members (four of seven of them) publicly asked Brizard to stay put; the board president says Birzard’s recently renewed contract represents a “covenant with the city.” Brizard wasn’t available for comment, according to this Rochester Democrat and Chronicle report.